HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: KOMETS COME FROM BEHIND TO DETHRONE MONARCHS IN CIF DIV. IV ROUND ONE

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo:  Monte Vista senior Ivan Plazola struck out 12 batters, but couldn't secure the lead as the Monarchs fell short.

May 22, 2018 (Spring Valley) - Monte Vista baseball has made it to the CIF Division IV playoffs.  Today in round one, they faced Kearny, the winners of a play-in on Monday against Calipatria.  The Komets are a near-perfect 11-1 in the Central League and a 17-12 overall record.  The Monarchs just barely eeked into the playoffs with a 9-6 record in the Grossmont League and an 18-11 overall record.  Senior Cade Logan took the hill for the Komets against senior Ivan Plazola for Monte Vista.

The Monarchs started early.  In the first, back-to-back RBI doubles by Plazola and junior Jon Gulley gave the Monarchs a 2-0 lead.

Plazola was cruising along, even striking out the side in the third and fourth innings, but the good times for Monte Vista came to a screeching halt in the fifth.  Sophomore Abraham Sanchez failed to catch a bad throw on a routine play to first and two runs came home for Kearny, tying the game.  Junior Devin Fragoso put the Komets in front 3-2 with a blast of an RBI single to left.  Despite Plazola’s incredible 12-strikeout day, the Monarchs’ season ends as the Komets come from behind with a 3-2 win to advance to round two.